Akil “The Real Deal” Baddoo Has Leaped Over Rookie Wall & Is Back To Bashing

There’s no question that Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo has been the talk of the town in the Motor City. 

In his first season with the Tigers, he has quickly become a fan favorite. Not to mention he’s considered to be one of the top rookies in the league as well. 

 

 

Baddoo has been an exciting player to watch this season and he does not show any signs of letting up.

 

 

As teams returned to play after the All-Star break, Baddoo was ready to get back on the field. One thing that he did not forget to do was swing a hot stick. In the Tigers’ first game back from the break, he went 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBI against the Minnesota Twins on July 17th.

The very next game what did you think he did? 

Baddoo went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. This brother knows how to have fun when he steps on that field.

One of the most important things you can do when you’re playing any sport is to have fun. And you can tell that Baddoo is having fun by watching him play.

On July 19th, Baddoo played a big part in the Tigers dominating win over the Texas Rangers. Detroit won 14-0 and Baddoo went 2-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored, a home run, and four RBI. 

 

 

That’s an impressive stat line right there. From July 11th to July 19th he went on a four-game hitting streak and is hitting .388 during that time with six runs scored, a triple, two home runs, and 10 RBI.

Through 74 games, he’s batting .278 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.

You don’t see too many people putting up these types of numbers during their first season. Baddoo leads the team in stolen bases, second in batting average, tied for fourth in home runs, and is fourth in RBI.

 

 

The fans absolutely love Baddoo, especially at Comerica Park. When he’s on the bases and his helmet flies off, the crowd goes crazy and that is something Baddoo feeds off of.

“It was like a second wave,” Baddoo told The Athletic. “Now you feel like everyone is involved. I love it.”

He went on to talk about the whole helmet situation, but it seems like he is not too worried about it coming off because he already knows it’s going to happen.

“I’ve tried a couple of helmets, and nothing seems to work for me,” he said, laughing. “I think the helmet is gonna keep flying off.”

“I need to figure something out because it’s annoying,” he said then. “But it’s working so far. It makes me look like I’m goin’ fast.”

The helmet has quickly become part of Baddoo’s game and what makes things better is that he’s embraced it.

And not to mention he’s been playing really good baseball too. 

Before the season, Baddoo was a player not too many people were familiar with. Now, he’s in the running for Rookie of the Year.

 

 

He has made the most of his opportunities and it is all paying off for our MLBbro.